Rinsing mechanism for wringers



Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to a rinsing mechanism for wringers.

More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism that may be embodied into a wringer structure of a washing machine for the purpose of providing rinse water adjacent the wringer rolls at a point where the wash enters or leaves such rolls.

By removing the soap, scum and other foreign matter which clingsto clothes before they arepassed through a wringer, it is possible to obtain whiter and cleaner clothes particularly by eliminating such foreign matter.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a clothes rinsing structure by supplying rinse water to a hollow pressure release bar thus providing a convenient arrangement for distributing rinse water to the clothes that pass through the wringer. i It is another object of the present invention to provide complementary clothes rinsing mechanism by directingrinse water to a hollowed-portion of the drain board structure of the wringer, thus also establishing a rinse from beneath the clothing as the latter garments pass through "such wringer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a suitable means for distributing rinse water to the pressure release bar or drain board of thewringer and to introduce a valving b arrangement for cutting off the entire rinsing water or for selectively allowing the rinse water to pass through the pressure release bar or throughthe drain board of the wringer, depending upon conditions of operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide auxiliary manifold arrangements which can be attached to the release bar of the wringer and also to the drain board thereof respectively which may be used as accessory features for supplying rinse water in the path of the clothes that pass through the wringer.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide operable mechanism that is responsive to. the bodily movement of the wringer rolls which is directly connected for opening and closing the water supply valve so as to open the valve for the passageof rinsewater whenever a piece of clothing enters the wringer rolls. Conversely, the rinse water may be shut ofi as soon as the rolls come-together in their normal contacted positions.

Other objects and advantages relating to the present invention shall hereinafter appearin the following detailed description having ref- 2 erence to the accompanying drawingforming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general side elevational view of a conventional washing machine incorporating the rinsing mechanism of the present invention into the wringer structure;

Fig. 2 is a detail traverse cross sectional View of the pressure release bar of the wringer as seen along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another transverse cross sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a drain board as seen along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevational view of a conventional pressure release bar with a manifold rinsing attachment connected therewith to rinse clothing;

Fig. 5 is a detail cross sectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 and as seen along the line 5 5 therein;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a conventional drain board of a wringer with a manifold rinsing water supply attachment connected therewith;

Fig. '7 is a small fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6 to show the relationship of the rinsing element to the drain board; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a conventional wringer attachment illustrating the use of a valve means for the rinse water which is rendered operative through the relative movement of the wringer rolls.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional washing machine having the tub I supported above the operating mechanism compartment 2 with a laterally disposed wringer post 3 terminating in a head 4 that supports a wringer 5 by means of the wringer housing 6 in a conventional manner. The wringer 5 is of the swingableconstruction that may be limited in any convenient manner as by means of a pin 1 connected with a portion of the wringer post 3 which operates within a limiting shouldered slot 8 that rotates directly with the wringer housing 6.

The wringer 5 is also of a conventional type which includes suitable operative mechanism within the housing 6 that is driven through the interior of the wringer post 3 from operating mechanism confined within the housing 2. The. wringer rolls are shown at 9 and Ill arrangedto receive the washed clothes from within the washing machne tub I over a suitable drain board H and beneath the head l2 of the wringer which is flanked by a pressure release bar IS.

The pressure release bar I3 is usually duplicated on the opposite side of the wringer and the drain board H is likewise so duplicated in conventional wringer structures.

A water supply standard or pipe M can be secured adjacent the wringer post 3 to receive an external supply of water through a hose such as It, and water passes through a flexible hose l8 that is connected between the head end ll of the fixed water supply pipe l4 and a valve structure l8.

The valve structure It may be of any suitable type having a main valve it that can be opened and closed by means of a valve handle 20. Valve [9 is provided with a manifold extension 2!- with valve control outlets 22 and 23 arranged for receiving flexible couplings Or hoses such as 24 and 25. The valve manifold Zl may also be provided with a. pair'of sirni'lar' valve controlled outlets on th opposite side thereof which are here shown as closed by plugs 26 and 2?. By removingplugs 2B and 2?", suitable hoses such as 28 and 29 may be also secured to the manifold for supplying a similar pres-sure release bar such as ['3 and an identical drain board such as H at the opposite side of the wringer. As shown. in Fig. 2, the pressure release bar i3 is hollow to provide an interior duct 30 from which a plurality ofdrilled openings tl may be positioned to direct rinse water downwardly upon the clothes and adjacent the wringer rolls 9 and; H The hose 24 connects by means or a suitable nippl 32 with one. end or the pressure. release bar 13 to thus conductrinse water from the water supply system and valve arrangement into the pressure release bar [3.

InFig, 3,, the drain. board ll isv provided with a manifold section 33 providing a duct 34 havin a plurality of. drilled openings 35 connected therewith, for directing water upwardly beneath the clothes. which pass. through the wringer rolls. The hose 25 connects by means of a suitable nipple 36 with the manifold 33 to supply rinse water through the valving system and into the drain board clothesrinsing.structure.

With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a rinsing means which is positioned conveniently with respect to the rolls ofthe wringer and into the most convenient position for access to the clothing. that is passed through the wringer. Furthermore, the pressure release bar of the wringer is herein utilized to provide a dual function and the drain board H is also so utilized. By having both or the valves 31 and 38 of the manifold open and by opening the main valve 253, rinse water enters the entire system thorugh the hose i and passes on to the pressure release bar and drain board for rinsing the clothes above and below respectively. Valves 31 and 38 may be employed to out off the water to either one of the units comprising the pressure release bar l3 or the drain board H.

Figs. 4- and 5 show a manifold attachment 39 secured by suitable straps such as 4 3 and M to a pressure release bar lie and rinse water is brought through a flexible hose 240: from. the valve arrangement in as in the preferred construction. Th manifold 39 has an interior duct 39a. and a. plurality of water supply openings am leading therefrom. I

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the use of a. relatively flat manifold 42 secured at 43 and 44, to the sur-. face of the drain board Ila and water is supplied to this manifold 42 through a flexible hose 25a that is also connected with the valving system.

In the rinsin arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, and in Figs. 4 and 6 respectively, the use of flexible hoses such as z t-25a and 25-25:; will permit the free operation of the pressure release bar respectively and will also establish a means for connecting a rinse system with a drain board which may be movably mounted with respect to the wringer. Furthermore the use of a flexible coupling such as it will permit swinging of the wringer 5 without interferring with the supply water system.

In Fig. 8,. one end of the wringer 5 is diagrammatically illustrated showing the interior thereof and the relatively movable wringer rolls 9 and Lil. Roll 9 ismovably guided by means of a bearing block 59 between suitable guides such as 5| and E2, while the wringer roll I0 is usually fixed by means of a bearing block 53 secured in place between guides 5| and 52.

This construction utilizes a similar valving arrangement iSaas. inthe Fig. 1- construction having a manifiold Hiawhich can be opened: and closedby an operating lever- 20a. Water is supplied: throngh' a flexible hose or coupling lea to the valve Him for entry into a manifold 2|.a. However, the valve [9a is opened by means. of the relative movement of the wringer rolls so that the rinse waterv is normally shut off until a. piece of clothing enters. between the rolls to separate such rolls as Si and Ill, whereupon. the rinse water will automatically be supplied to the pressure release bar structure or to the drain board structure. This is accomplished by the use of a cable: in the form of a flexible wire such as 54 which passes through a suitable. thimble 55 secured to one-of the vertical guide members 5| and is secured to any oneof the movable portionsv of the movable roll 9 such asto-thebearing 5! where the cable is attached at 56. The other end; 51 ofthe cable may.- be attached in any one or a number of positions in. the openings 55 in the lever 2%. A tension spring 59 normally maintains the lever 26a; in a position to clos the valve Ito, and a pu11 on the cable 54 responsiveto the bodily movement of the wringer roll 9' will open the valve I9 to supply rinse water to the structures hercinbeioredescribed. It should also be noted that the lever 2'da may be operated by hand since the slack in the cable will permit. such action. Considerable saving of water can. be automatically accomplished through. the use of a wringer and rinsing structure substantially as illustrated. in Fig, 8-

While the foregoing description; has been directed to preferred embodiments of. the. invention, it is to. be understood. that certain changes may be made in the details of construction, com.- bination and. arrangement or, parts,. and that such changes are contemplated, without departing from the spirit and. scope of the-invention. as

claimed. V

For example pipe l4 and hose [61 can besuitably installed within the post. 3' and wringer base to connect with a valve I 8 mounted for use within the wringer head 6 with only the stems of the valves 20, 31 and 38 extendin outwardly'of the head. for convenient use. by the operator. Hose couplings such as 24 and 25 may likewise be concealed within the wringer head for connection with the release bar l3- andjdrain board H' if so desired.

What I claim is: I

1. In a wringer wringer rolls; a pressure release bar carried adjacent one side of said wringer rolls, andrinse means to direct rinse water against clothes entering said wringer rolls comprising perforated conduit means connected with said pressure release bar and having a water entry-inlet connected to receive supply water for discharge throughthe perforations of said conduit means, and a water supply means connected with said water entry inlet of said conduit means, said conduit means perforations being arranged to discharge rinse water in the direction of the clothes entering said wringer rolls. 2. In a wringer, wringer rolls, a drain board supported adjacent said rolls and therebelow, and rinse means todircctirinse water against clothes entering said wringer rolls in supporting contact with said drain board comprising perforated conduit means connected with a drain surface portion of saiddrain board and having a water entry inlet connected to receive supply water for discharge through the perforations of said conduit means, and a water supply means connected with said water entry inlet of said conduit means, said conduit means perforations being arranged to discharge rinse water away from the drain surface portion of said board and in the direction of the clothes entering said wringer rolls over and in contact with said drain board. A i

i 3. A rinsing means for a wringer having wringer rolls, a pressure release bar carried adjacent said rolls and at one side of said wringer, and a drain board supported adjacent said wringer rolls and therebelow,said rinsing means consisting of said pressure release bar provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned over the; clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section to direct rinse water downwardlyupon clothes entering said wringer rolls, and said drain board being provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned below the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section of said drain board to direct rinse water upwardly and against the under portions of the clothes entering said wringer rolls.

4. A rinsing means, for a wringer having wringer rolls, a pressure release bar carried adjacent said rolls and at one side of said wringer, and a drain board supported adjacent said wringer rolls and therebelow, said rinsing means consisting of said pressure release bar provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned over the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section to direct rinse water downwardly upon clothes entering said ringer rolls, and said drain board being provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned below the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communieating with said hollow section of said drain board to direct rinse water upwardly and against the under portions of the clothes entering said wringer rolls, and water supply means connected with said release bar and saiddrain board respectively and having communication with said hollow water conducting sections of each to supply rinse water for the clothes rinsing operation of each.

5. A rinsing means for a wringer having wringer rolls, a pressure release bar carried adjacent said rolls and at one side of said wringer,

and a drain board supported adjacent said wringer rolls and therebelow, said rinsing means consisting of said pressure release bar provided with a hollow water conducting section posi-. tioned over the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communieating with said hollow section to direct rinse water downwardly upon clothes entering said wringer rolls, and said drain board being provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned below the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section of said drain board to direct rinse water upwardly and against the under portions of theolothes entering said wringer rolls, andwater supply means connected with said release bar and said drain board respectively and having communication with said hollow water conducting sections of each to supply rinse water for the clothes rinsing operation of each, said water supply means comprising a water flow control valve means carried by said wringer, a water supply line to said valve means, and flexible conduits interposed between said valve means and the hollow water conducting sections of the pressure release bar and the drain board respectively.

6. A rinsing means for a wringer having wringer rolls, a pressure release bar supported for limited movement relative to the wringer and disposed adjacent said rolls and at one side of said wringer, and a drain board supported for limited movement adjacent said wringer rolls and therebelow, said rinsing means consisting of said pressure release bar provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned over the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section to direct rinse water down,- wardly upon clothes entering said wringer rolls, and said drain board being provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned below the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section of said drain board to direct rinse water upwardly and against theunder portions of the clothesentering said wringer rolls, and water supply means connected with said release bar and said drain board respectively and having communication with said hollow water conducting sections of each to supply rinse water for the clothes rinsing operation of each, said water supply means comprising a control valve fixedly mounted upon said wringer, a water line to said valve, and flexible water delivery conduits connected with said valve and with said pressure release bar and said drain board respectively for communication with the hollow water conducting sections of each.

7. A rinsing means for a wringer having wringer rolls, a pressure release bar carried adjacent said rolls and at one side of said wringer, and a drain board supported adjacent said wringer rolls and therebelow, said rinsing means consisting of said pressure release bar provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned over the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section to direct rinse water downwardly upon clothes entering said wringer rolls, and said drain board being provided with a hollow water conducting section positioned below the clothes receiving portion of said wringer rolls and having perforations communicating with said hollow section of said drain board to direct rinse water up acsa n wardlyand againstthe under portions of the clothes entering said wringer rolls and Water supply means connected. with said releasev bar and said drain board respectively and having: communication with said; hollow water conducting sections of each to supply rinse" water for the clothes rinsing operation of each, said water supply" means comprising a valv mechanism, a watersupply line connected with said valve mec anism, water discharge conduits connected between said valve: mechanism and said: pressure release bar and said drain board respectively for communication with the hollow water conducting sections of each, and said valvemechanism including selective control valves to supply rinse water to the bar and/or the drain board and to regulate the volume of flow of water delivered through said supply line.

8, In a wringer having clothes wringing rolls and a pressure release bar for separating said rolls carried by said wringer adjacent the rolls and above the path of the clothes entering said rolls, the combination of fluid conduit means connected with said pressure release bar and having perforations therein arranged to direct rinse fluid in a predetermined direction upon ciothes passing through said wringer, and a fluid supply means connected with said fluid conduit means to deliver rinsing fluid to said conduit means.

9. In a wringer having clothes wringing rolls and a drain board supported adjacent the rolls and therebelow, the combination of a fluid conduit means carried by said drain board and disposed adjacent a fluid draining surface portion thereof, said conduit means having fluid discharge openings form-edtherethrough and arranged to direct rinse water fluid away from said fluid draining surface portion 'of the board and against the underside of clothes passing through said wringer rolls, and a fluid supply means -con nected with said fluid conduit means to deliver rinsing fluid to said conduit means.

In a wringer having relatively bodily movable wringer rolls, a pressure release bar for the manual release of said. rolls, and a drain board beneath said rolls, the combination of a clothes rinsing means consisting of perforated conduit means for said pressure release bar to direct rinse fluid upon clothes passing through said wringer rolls, perforated conduit means for said drain board to direct rinse fluid against the underside of the clothes passing through said wringer rolls, rinse fluid supply means connected with said conduit means to supply rinsing fluid thereto, a. valve unit for said fluid supply means to interrupt the 8 flow of. rinsing fluid, and operative: mechanism connected with said valve and with at. least one of said wringer rolls and arranged to close said valve unit upon bodily separation of said wringer rolls.

11. A. clothes. rinsing mechanism for aclothes wringer comprising, in combination, bodily separable wringer rolls, rinse conduits carried jacent' said rolls providing means to direct rinsing fluid. against clothing. passing through said wringer rolls, a fluid supply system connected with said rinse conduits, a valve in said system'to control the flow of fluid to said conduitsand operative means: to open and close said valve; said operative means having a connection with said wringer rolls rendered responsive to the bodily separation of said wringerrolls to shut on said valve and the rinse fluid supply to said rinseconduits upon roll separation.

12. In a pressure releasebarfor a wringer having bodily separable wringer rollsactuated by said bar with said bar positioned adjacent said rolls and above the path of clothes passing through said rolls, the improvement in said bar consisting of providing a hollow section in the bar over the path of clothes passing to the wringer rolls together with apertures leading from said hollow section and opening in the direction of said passing clothes, and fluid conducting means connected with said bar and having communication with the hollow section thereof to supply fluid to said bar for rinsing clothes through the apertures in said bar. v

13. In a drainboard for a wringer having clothes wringing rolls disposed above the board and wherein clothes are passed through said rolls and over said drain board, the improvement in said board consisting of providing a hollow section in said board disposed across the pathoi' travel of the clothes to the rolls and therebeneath together with apertures leading from said hollow section and opening in the direction of said pass ing clothes, and fluid, conducting means connected with said board and havi-ngcommunication with the hollow sec'tion thereof to supply fluid to said board for rinsing clothes through the apertures in said board.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,411,249 Allhiser Apr. 4,1922 1,732,268 Haas Oct. 22 1929 2,406,108 Schellenberg Aug. 2.0, 19.46 

